India captain Kohli proud of suspended Jadeja for bringing balance to team after Test series win over Sri Lanka

Ravindra Jadeja, centre, and Ravichandran Ashwin, extreme right, are good examples of players who made their names in the IPL before playing for India. Reuters

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule

1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle

2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo

3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele

Shortly before Ravindra Jadeja was fined and banned for one match on Sunday, captain Virat Kohli hailed the left-arm spinner for his all-round performance in the series-clinching victory against Sri Lanka, saying he gave the side a great balance.

India crushed the home team by an innings and 53 runs on Day 4 of the second Test in Colombo to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Jadeja, the world No 1 spinner in ICC Test rankings, claimed five second-innings wickets as India bowled out the hosts for 386. He also contributed with an unbeaten 70 in India's first innings total of 622-9 declared.

But the southpaw was suspended for third and final Test, to be played from August 12-16 in Pallekele, after accumulating six demerit points over a 24-month period. He admitted throwing the ball at Sri Lanka batsman Dimuth Karunaratne "in a dangerous manner" after fielding it off his own bowling.

Jadeja had accumulated points earlier for running on the pitch during the Indore Test against New Zealand last year.

"Guys who have both abilities are very rare to find. That's where we think they're very precious, specially in the longer format because they provide you with great balance," Kohli said.

"He can give you a very quick 60-70 anywhere at any stage and it can really turn the game... He's always in the game. I would say he's a very valuable cricketer for us."

Sri Lanka had handed India the advantage after being dismissed for 183 in their first innings, conceding a 439-run lead.

But the hosts fought back during their follow-on with a defiant 191-run second-wicket partnership between the left-handed Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis, who fell for 110 before stumps on Day 3.

However Kohli kept rotating his bowlers at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground to keep the batsmen on their toes, and the strategy paid off.

"Today we said even if we don't get wickets early on we are going to enjoy these tough times as well, because they really improve you as a side," said Kohli, who became the only India captain to win two Test series in Sri Lanka.

"Success will come your way but you need patience. Very happy that we went through the difficult phases as well and you never get complacent as a side then."